Device for lubricating fluid pressure operated means



June 13, 1950 A. L. SEMON DEVICE FOR LUBRICATING FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED MEANS Filed 061'.. 29, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 13, 1950 A. L.. sEMoN 2,511,016

DEVICE FOR LUBRICATING FLUID PRESSURE oPERATED MEANS Filed Oct. 29, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4f. 7 Al j 9M Il? ff (14 (2 15 sz rrd- 35 Y 37j ZI Z9 Y 1 25 Y f l( 42 E y2/yy INVENTOR. f5. ZI. 62722022 Patented June 13, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR LUBRICATING FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED MEANS 11 Claims.

This invention relates'to devices for lubricating.4 fluid pressure operated means, such as pneumaticfto'ols, by delivering a spray of lubricant in a conduit lconnecting a source of supply of fluid pressure in' communication with the fluid pressureuoperated means.

'It is `the principal object of theinvention to provide -control means in a uidpressure inlet and lubricant outlet foi a lubricant containing receptacle which will prevent'the building up ci duid pressure in `the Areceptacle vwhen the fluid pressure operated means is shut off from the fluid pressure supply. Said accumulated pressure in the receptacle will cause the delivery of an undue amount of lubricant to said' iiuid pressure operated means upon opening the communication between the iiuid pressure operated means and the iiuid pressure supply and the consequent ygumming of the Working parts of the fluid pressure' operated means.

It is another object of the invention to provide bleeding valves in said iiuid pressure inlet and lubricant outlet of the lubricant containing. receptacle Yto permit passage of a small volume of pressure intooand a. small quantity of lubricant outk of the receptacle.

.lil` further. objectof the invention isto provide adjustment. of vthe valve at the lubricant outlet of .the receptacle.

y Other` objects and advantages of the invention will be. hereinafter described.

In thedrawings.accompanying and forming apart of` this application:

Figure 1. is aA .view .lookingat the top, of the device formingtheembodiment .of Athe inven tion.

Figure `2 is .an elevational view of.V said device.

Figure 3 ist asectional view taken-ion the line 3-3cot Figure Zlooking. inthe. direction of the arrows.

Figure 4- is va fragmentary .viewVon an enlarged-scaley of.the.. upper right hand fportionl of Figure 3 showingfthe-bleeding valves in -one extreme positionci movement opposite to the positionshown in Figure `S'.

Figure 5-is Vav view similar to Figure 1 showin-g a modiiicationfof the device yshown i-n Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, andr embodying means to adust the" Ivalve-at thelubricant outlet ofv `the receptacle.

Figure 6 is. a fragmentary side elevational view of -thexidevice vhaving the modification shownv in Figure 5.`

VFigurev 7 .is axsectional view taken'on the vline lBil arrows. to. showy the structure of the valve adjusting means.

lThe embodiment of .the invention illustrated in the accompanying. drawings comprises a cup shaped receptacle 5 of suitableopaque or transparent material, such as metal, glass or plastic, for containing a supply lof lubricant, suchfas oil. The upper open end of the receptacle is arranged with an outwardly extending lannular iiange .6 for the engagement of an annular member or ring 'l having equidistantly spaced projections 8, extended from the periphery of the ring and havingscrew threaded recesses for the engagement of screws, 9 engaged in openings in corresponding projections I0 extending from a head Il, as shown. in Figures 1, .2, 5 and 6.

The head Il yhermetically closes the open end of the receptacle 5 by beingL provided. withfan annular. seat I2 corresponding to the. edge of the receptacle wall to engage said edge with a gasket I3 interposed. between the seat. and edge, as shown in Figures 3,.,4 and 7, andthe head retained on the receptacleby the screws 9.,. as shown in Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6.

A. tubular boss I4 is arranged on top `of and integral with the head and extendedtransversely of the centerthereof. The bore of the bossis of uniform diameter tov form a passage I5,.as shewnfin Figures 3,. 4 and '7, with the. opposite end portions, of .the passage enlarged and screw 'threaded for the. engagement of theV screw threaded ends. of. .a conduit. .or pipe I6 connected in communica-tion with a source of supply of pressure,.such .as an .air compressor, not. shown, and a conduit orcpipe .-Ilconnected inA communication with-a uid pressure operated-means, such'as a .pneumatic tool, not shown. The rscrew threadsin the venlarged ends ot the passage are spaced fromV the `juncture between the body of the passa-ge,y and-the opposite4 enlarged end portions thereof to 'provide an `enlarged annular space between the -body'of the passage andthe ends `ot the-pipes |5 and H, as shown at |'8 in Figures 3, ctand '7. The'uid pressure or compressed-*air flows through the passage l5 in the direction-of the arrow shown in Figure 3 and a vcontrolledA amount of said pressure or air is sumlied` to Athe 'top' oi. the receptacle above the lubricant proil th'ereinthrough a restricted port in the-head ll formed by providing an openingior vpassage!Sle'xtended through the head1 l at a right yangle tothe passage l5 and adjacent tothe `enlargedspace'v I8 at the `outlet of pipe lsrwiththe opposite ends of said opening com- T-flof Figure Griloolringin the direction of y'the 55 municating with lthe passage i5Y and the top of the receptacle 5. A tubular plug is mounted in said opening I9 and comprises a head 20 intermediate the ends thereof to abut the inner face of the head II and a screw threaded shank portion 2| between said head 2D and one end oi the plug and screw threaded in the end portion of the opening I9 adjacent to the inner face of the head II. The end of the pl'ug nearest to the head 2| is closed by an integral wall 22 and the wall portion between said closed end wall 22 and the head 20 is provided with opposed alined perforations or openings 23 for lateral passage of the fluid pressure or air into the receptacle 5. The opposite end of the plug nearest the screw threaded shank portion 2| is closed by another plug in the form of -a screw 24 screw threaded in the bore of the plug 26--23 at said end and the portion of the plug ZIJ-23 between the screw plug 24 and the screw threaded shank portion 2| is provided with opposed alined perforations or openings 25 for the reception of the iiuid pressure or air from the enlarged annular portion I8. The diameter of the opening I9 is slightly larger than the end portion of the plug ZIJ-23 arranged with the screw plug 24 yand openings 25 to permit the free flow of fluid pressure or air from the annular portion I8 and the pipe I6 into the bore of the plug ZIJ-23 through the openings 25, as shown inl Figures 3, 4 and '7. 'I'.be iiow of the fluid pressure or air through the bore of the plug 2li-23 is restricted by a rod shaped member 25 of slightly less diameter than the bore of the plug -23 to permit a flow of uid pressure or air from the openings to the openings 23. The length of the rod member 25 is such that when one end of said member abuts the closed end wall 22 the opposite end of the rod member is clear of the openings 25, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, and when said opposite end of the rod member abuts the screw plug 24 the first end is clear of the openings 23, as shown in Figure 4.

The lubricant or oil in the receptacle 5 is discharged as a fine spray or mist into the passage I 5 by the uid pressure or air entering the receptacle through the plug 2li-23 and forcing the lubricant or oil up through a tube 21 mounted at one end portion in a tubular plug 28 by suitable means, such as sweating the tube 21 in the bore of the plug 28. The plug 28 is screw threaded to engage screw threads in an opening 29 in the center of the head Il and communicating with the passage I5 and the receptacle 5. The end of the opening 2-3 communicating with the passage I5 is tapered to engage an end portion of the tube 21 extending into the passage I5, as shown at 3u in Figures 3. 4 and '1. and the opposite end of the opening 29 is encircled by a shoulder on the head II to be engaged by a head of the plug 28, as shown at 3 I. The bore in the portion of the tube 21 extending from the plug 28 into the passage I5 is of .smaller diameter than the diameter of the bore of the remaining portion of the tube and. said bore portion of smaller diameter communicates with the passage I5 through an opening or port 32 extending through the wall portion of the tube facing the outlet pipe I1. The end of the tube 21 opposite the end arranged with the opening 32 terminates adjacent to the bottom of the receptacle 5 so that said end of the tube constituting the inlet end thereof lies below the level of the lubricant or oil in the receptacle. In Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, the bore portion of smaller diameter of the tube 21 extends to the end of said tube terminating in the passage I5 and slidably supports a rod shaped member 33 of slightly less diameter than the diameter o1 said bore portion and having a head 34 at one end to limit the sliding movement of the rod member 33 in the tube 21 by either engaging the end of the tube 21, as shown in Figure 4, or engaging the portion of the wall of the passage I5 opposite said tube end, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

The space or clearance between the rod member 26 and the wall of the bore in plug 2li-23, and the space or clearance between the rod member 33 and the wall of the bore of smaller diamu eter in the tube 21 are the same, so that the flow of fluid pressure or air through the plug 20-23 into the receptacle and the flow of the lubricant or oil through the port 32 into the passage I 5 will be the same when the communication between the tool connected to the Ipipe I1 and the source of supply of fluid pressure or compressor connected to the pipe i5 is opened. During the normal operation of the tool, said communication is controlled by a valve at the tool, and when the normal operation of the tool is completed, the communication is closed by a valve at the source of supply of uid pressure or compressor. It has been found that a clearance of five thousandths of an inch between the rod member 26 and the wall 0I" the bore of the plug 25-23 and between the rod member 33 and the Wall of the bore portion of smaller diameter of the tube 21 gives satisfactory results. The rod members 2E and 33 act as bleeding valves.

In Figurs 5 to 7, inclusive, there is shown a modiiied form of valve for controlling the discharge 0I" lubricant or oil through the port 32 comprising a ball 31 of slightly greater diameter than the bore portion of smaller diameter of the tube 21 and engaged in an enlarged end 38 of said bore portion at the extremity of the tube 21, as shown in Figure "I. The enlarged end 38 of the bore portion of smaller diameter of the tube 21 communicates with the port 32. The amount of movement of the ball 31 toward and away from the bore of smaller diameter of the tube 21 caused by the flow of lubricant in the tube 21 and the pressure in the passage I5 is varied by an adjustable member 39 having screw threads on the opposite end portions with the center portion smooth and a smooth portion 40 of reduced diameter extending from one of the screw threaded end portions and slidable in the enlarged end 38 of the tube 21 to engage the ball 31. The adjustable member 39 is adjustably mounted in the boss i4 by eng-aging the screw threaded end portion adjacent to the reduced portion 4!) in a screw threaded opening in the wall portion of the boss in opposed relation to the opening 29 in the head II, as shown in Figure '1. The smooth center portion of the adjustable member 39 is engaged by a packing 4I engaged in a stufling box 42 integrally arranged on the center of the boss I4 and having external screw threads for the engagement of a cap member 43 having an external recess 44 in the closed end thereof and slidably engaged on the portion of the adjustable member 39 extending from the stufing box 42, as shown in Figure '1. The cap member is tightened on the stuiiing box to compress the stuiiing therein. The adjustable member 39 is manipulated by a knob A5 screw threaded on the screw threaded end portion of the adjustable member projecting from the cap member 43 and having a reduced under face portion 46 slidable in the recess 44 of the cap member 43. The periphery of the body of the knob is serrated to facilitate actuation of the same. The knob is clamped to the adjustable ati nous 'membersllr by aiicap .flIll @screw threaded onfthe screw `threaded end.V `.portion of ether. adjustable member-@rejecting from the knob :45. i In 'assembling the adjustable member .39fnthefboss Jil, said member fisfirstiadjusted-fby atscrew'rdrivfer Lengaged :in va slot-'481m .theaprojectingcend @of the :adjustable nremberelto engage .the .reduced portion 'fzf with the: ,rballi311 rand :sseati: said ball against the bore of smaller diameterzof dil-1e. tube 21. z Then :the knob 45; is :adjusted-.nn themember 38'to rabuttheicap membersdifwith `tlfrezredu'ced :petizioni-45 fully engaged.r 2within 'the recess '244. Subsequently thecapll 'If dis engaged-:on the eprofiecting rend` :of theriimember Sedan-di tightened againstlthe knob. To indicate the position foi thewreducedportionfli relative tothe `balli3'1, the knob -rfil'fis arramged` with indi-cia won.' lthe 'upper face thereof spaced ninety (90% degrees apart, as indicated-"at It .-inrlrigure and adapted :to/be pesitionederelatire' to a @post V5I) `fixed at fone end in a lateral extension .5l rofirtheboss lI asshown in Figure 6,'and having a `square .head/52 at .the opposite end withfene cerner adjacentfto these-rra-ted periphery; A:cf-the- .knob- :45 so that .the indcia @may be positionedain .alinement withsaid corner, shown in ,Figure andfsaidscorner vconstituting a pointer. The adjustment off'theadjustabvlememben-- isa-limited to ener-evolution of the knob 45 in either direction by afpin53 fixed in and profiectingfrom` the periphery of the knob 45 to engage the opposite sides of the corner of the head 52 positioned adjacent'to said perihpery. When the reduced portioni abuts .the ball .31, the indicium is in register with, the pointer corner of the head 52 and the adjustment of the head 45 to'successiveiy 4position the' indicia 1, 2 and"3 relative to the pointer corner oi the head will .progressivelyfadinst the: reduced portion?` sill' from .the ball.. ,flx'tozpermiti greater movement. -of the A.ballirmnz thefbore portion .of smaller. diameterefvthe tube, 12F! `and a greater ameunt gef; lubricant orA oil :itmfbe discharged through the port 32. In the position of the adjustable member shown in Figures to '7, inclusive, the knob is adjusted with the indicium 1" in register with the pointer corner of the head 52 and the reduced portion 40 slightly spaced from the ball 3'! in seated position. When the knob is adjusted with the indicia 1, 2 or "3" in register with the pointer corner of the head 52, the

ball 31 will function in the same manner as the rod member 33.

The flow of uid pressure or air through the passage I5 from pipe I6 to pipe I'I will also create a vacuum around the end portion of the tube 27 extending into the passage I5 and in front of the port 32 tending to draw the lubricant or oil up the tube 21 from the receptacle 5 through the port 32 into the passage I5. Variations in the fluid pressure or air in the pipes I6 and Il and passage I5 will `cause the rod members 25 and 33, or rod member 2G and ball 31, to reciprocate and control the iiow of the fluid pressure or air from the pipe Iii through the plug 2li-23 into the receptacle and the iiow of lubricant or oil from the receptacle through the port 32 into the passage I5 and pipe I'I. The sliding movements of the rod members 25 and 33 will maintain the bore of the plug 2Ii-23 and the reduced bore portion of the tube 2l clear oi an, accumulation of dirt carried by the air or oil.

The supply of lubricant or oil in the receptacle 5 is replenished through a filler opening in the head II closed by a screw threaded plug 35.

An arrow 36 is arranged on the tubular boss c Id'gasishownrin -Figure; 1,:toindicate-:the direction oirlow -ofthe uid pressure or `air-inthe passage I=5,=-a'nd"iin what trends lof said `boss the pipes I6 and rIr'I cavetto bemounted.

f .Havin'gzthusiidescrbed my invention, I :claim: if Inf a=1ubricating1device for fluid pressure operated tools, a head having a passage adapted to-'be connected :at the oppositeendsvin a' conduit connecting a source of supply o fluideipressure in `coI-nmunication with af'iuidl pressure .operated tool',V a lubricant-'containing receptacle' mounted onf the headf andcommnnicating with the passage through a'port in; said head, a .member slidably mounted to have free movement in said port andfactuated solely by'uid pressure toregulate thei'vo'lume offfluid pressure' entering the rece-p tacle", a tube .carried bythe head and havngvone end:iportionftermnating inthe passage andarranged: withianfopening in the wall thereof iacd ing2in-therdirectionfofV the ilow'of pressure iniv said passageiand the opposite end of the tube terminating. belowthe level of the lubricant in therreceptacletoprovide a flow of lubricantzrom the recept'acle'intothe passage yunder the force of theiiuird' pressure in the'receptacla Aand 4a second member. movabiy mounted in the end portionfofi=the tube; haai-ng the opening in the wallithereofrand actuated by the fluid pressure and themlubricant to regulate the new of lubricantrfrom the receptacle through-said opening into the:z-passage.

2; lubricating: dev-ice- 'forv fluid pressure openatedatoolswas claimed inrclaim 1, wherein the slidable'members have a predetermined clearance .withsthe portandrtube of the lsame dimension. 3i A lubricating device ier-fluid `pressure operated tools as claimed in claim 1, wherein the port l-in;theheadcomprises a boreclosed at the opposite Aends Aaand havingY lateral openings adjacent said closed ends, the lateral open-ings at one end communicating with the passage and-the lateral ropenings,` "at, the opposite fendfcommunieating with the receptacle, and the rst member being of less length than the bore and having sliding movement therein limited by the closed ends of the bore.

4. A lubricating device for fluid pressure operated tools as claimed in claim 1, wherein the port in the head comprises a bore closed at the opposite ends and having lateral openings adjacent said closed ends, the lateral openings at one end communicating with the passage and the lateral openings at the opposite end communicating with the receptacle, and the first member comprising a rod of less diameter and length than the bore to have sliding movement therein limited by the closed ends of the bore.

5. A lubricating device for fluid pressure operated tools as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second member comprises a rod having a head at one end to limit the sliding movement of said rod in the tube by said head engaging the end of the tube in one extreme position of movement and engaging the wall of the passage in the other extreme position of movement.

6. A lubricating device for iluid pressure operated tools as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bore of the end portion of the tube arranged with the opening in the wall thereof is of less diameter than the diameter of the bore of the remaining portion of the tube, and the second member comprises a rod of less diameter than and slidable in the bore portion of smaller diameter of the tube.

7. A lubricating device for uid pressure operated tools as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bore of the end portion of the tube arranged with the opening in the wall thereof is of increased diameter relative to the adjacent bore portion of the tube, and the second member comprises a ball engaged in said bore portion of increased diameter and adapted to have limited movement toward and away from the adjacent bore portion of the tube.

8. In a lubricating device for uid pressure operated tools, a head having a passage adapted to be connected at the opposite ends in a conduit connecting a source of supply of fluid pressure in communication with a fluid pressure operated tool, a lubricant containing receptacle mounted on the head and communicating with the passage through a port in said head, a member slidably mounted in said port to regulate the volume of fluid pressure entering the receptacle, a tube carried by the head and having one end portion terminating in the passage and arranged with an opening in the wall thereof facing in the direction of the flow of fluid pressure in said passage and the opposite end of the tube terminating below the level of the lubricant in the receptacle to provide a ow of the lubricant from the receptacle into the passage under the force of the fluid pressure in the receptacle, a ball mounted in the end of the tube arranged with the opening in the wall thereof to control the discharge of lubricant through said opening, and a member adjustably mounted in the head to have adjustment toward and away from the ball to vary the amount of movement of the ball toward and away from the bore of the tube and the amount of lubricant discharged through the opening in the wall of the tube.

9. A lubricating device for uid pressure operated tools as claimed in claim 8, wherein the adjustable member has limited adjusting movement.

10. A lubricating device for fluid pressure operated tools as claimed in claim 8, wherein the adjustable member is arranged with a manipulating knob exteriorly of the head arranged with spaced indicia, a post mounted on the head and having a pointer adjacent to the knob to indicate the position of the adjustable member relative to the ball, and said knob having a `projection to engage the pointer and limit the adjustment of the adjustable member.

11. The combination with fluid pressure operated means, a source of fluid pressure and a conduit connecting the source of uid pressure in communication with the fluid pressure operated means, a lubricant containing receptacle having an inlet in communication with the conduit and opening to the receptacle above the lubricant therein, lubricant outlet means from the receptacle having an inlet opening to the receptacle below the level of the lubricant therein and an outlet opening to the conduit in line with the flow of the uid pressure therethrough, and means operative and controlled by a variance in the pressure in the lubricant receptacle to regulate the fluid pressure inlet to the lubricant receptacle from the conduit and admission of fluid pressure into the receptacle and regulate the outlet of the lubricant outlet means to the conduit and discharge of lubricant from the receptacle into the conduit.

ALBERT L. SEMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date `1,721,231 Osborne July 16, 1929 1,755,240 Clark Apr. 22, 1930 1,757,084 Hansen May 6, 1930 2,187,241 Kehle Jan. 16, 1940 2,223,700 Norgren Dec. 3, 1940 

